BLACK VIOLET takes place during the last major outbreak of the Black Plague in 17th Century London. During this time, it was widely believed that black cats were the source of the disease decimating Europe. They, along with other domestic pets, were systematically rounded up and exterminated in an attempt to contain the spread of contagion. With the resulting lack of natural predators, however, London’s rat population skyrocketed–the same population that was in fact the true carrier of the plague.

OUR STORY follows Violet, a young black house cat living comfortably in London. When her owner leaves home to do her part to help ease the suffering of London’s afflicted, and her caretaker falls prey to the plague, Violet is forced to venture out into the world for the first time in her life. In her search for her owner, Violet faces unimaginable dangers, crosses paths with bizarre characters, and forges unexpected friendships, all amidst one of the most terrifying passages of London’s history…

To see more of the action, visit the YouTube playlist to see the complete story from Act I

EZRA CLAYTAN DANIELS is a writer and illustrator based in Chicago, IL. His critically acclaimed graphic novel series, The Changers, began a unique comics career peppered with a number of collaborative multimedia projects ranging from video games to animation to feature documentaries. Ezra is also the creator of the popular live art spectacle, The Comic Art Battle, and Loaded Blanks Greetings, a line of fill-in-the-blanks comic-art greeting cards featuring both established as well as up and coming comics artists. His most recent collaboration, an animated short film with experimental video artist Adebukola Budunrin, has screened in over a dozen museums and theaters, including the MFA Boston, REDCAT Theater, ATA San Francisco, and at Art Basel, Switzerland. Ezra is currently working on Upgrade Soul, a pioneering immersive science fiction graphic novel for iOS that has been featured on the App Store and nominated for a 2013 IndieCade Award. Developed for Erik Loyer’s Opertoonity comics engine, Upgrade Soul has been displayed in installations at The Hyde Park Art Center, the Wexner Center for the Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and was a featured project at the Fantoche International Animation Festival and the Fumetto International Comics Festival. For more information on Ezra, please visit www.ezracdaniels.com.

"Young chamber groups devoted to shaking up the traditional concert experience are blossoming in Chicago, and one of the best is the five-year-old Fifth House Ensemble... They are a talented crew, and they brought spontaneity and hair-trigger responsiveness to the music of Black Violet."